My initial thought was that the attacker from Palace - although leaping earlier then the defender " pushed the defender out of the challenge with his body notably before he met the ball with his head.

As it was deemed fair, yet I tend to think otherwise, can the panel please help me by talking through why it was a fair goal and not a push/charge.

Or is it possibly a case of ITOOTR on the day.

Cheers

Russell

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Russell Every chance that it could have been called as a foul. It looks like the attacker leans over the defender in a way that holds him down. The question the referee has to ask is whether the defender bends down, makes no attempt to leap for the ball and looks for the foul. I think many times it will be called as a foul by the attacker but it is in the ITOOTR on the day. A match long physical battle between two strong players might allow the referee to be more lenient when calling such aerial challenges.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Russell, The basic issue is does one player have a significant advantage over the other in access to the ball by nature of a better position? In terms of a foul I often see both players fouling each other in a grab pull or a push away. The match long interaction of both seeking to be the winner of any challenge has a cumulative effect if they both are sort of equal in their actions. A referee will be unlikely to step in unless the foul is 100% convincing. I thought the attacker leapt to head the ball while the defender stood on the ground with the arms out wide trying to block the access. The referee had a angled view from the top of the PA and the AR had a look across so no idea if there was any talk to not award the goal . The attacker did not use the attacker for height but he did drape an arm over the shoulder holding him down as he went over him. Yet I never saw the defender make an attempt to get into the air? Often the attacker is fast coming forward to head and defenders often try to undercut the jump. because they do not have the running space to get high. His match his decision his reputation ITOOTR. Cheers

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